Ryan Stout

Comedian Ryan Stout hopes you're paying attention during his set. "People who are willing to sit and listen will enjoy my act more than those who just want to get an emotional response to something," he explains. "If I say something onstage, the set-up to my joke might make you cringe a little bit, but if you wait and listen for the punch line, you realize that everything is okay." Stout has hosted several programs on MTV, and taped a Comedy Central Presents episode in 2009. He is always pursuing more television work, but somewhat reluctantly. "I got into standup because I have always really loved the craft," he says. "I like to be around other standups, and I like to talk about comedy with other comics. So that's kind of where I belong. However, financially that's not a good business model." Unlike a lot of comedians, Stout plans to do television work so he can keep getting onstage, instead of the other way around. "I will always do standup, but I look to TV and film positions to help facilitate my bankroll so that I can still get out there and get onstage." 18+. (Photo by Shannon Casey)June 21-25, 8 p.m.; June 24-25, 10:30 p.m., 2011